Tuesday, November 29, 2011

The Turfgrass Information Center, a unit of the Michigan State University Libraries, has received two generous donations to support digitization work.

The first gift was a challenge grant from the O.J. Noer Research Foundation, promising to match gifts before December 31, 2011, up to a total of $5000. And, when the matching gift was announced to supporters, the Wisconsin Golf Course Superintendents Association immediately pledged $5000 to meet the challenge.

“Both organizations have our sincere thanks,” said Pete Cookingham, head of the Turfgrass Information Center. “We’re also grateful to other supporters who are still responding. We now hope to exceed the original challenge by several thousand dollars!”

Funds from the challenge and the matching gift will be used to continue digitization of the Noer/Milorganite Division MMSD Image Collection – 14,000 35mm color slides illustrating the settings, techniques, and results of turf management efforts throughout North America between 1924 and 1980. Digitizing the majority of the slide portion of the collection is estimated at approximately $80,000.

The Turfgrass Information Center is the world's most comprehensive publicly-available collection of turfgrass research and educational materials. The TIC is an irreplaceable resource for students, researchers, and professionals around the world who are responsible for maintaining golf courses, athletic fields, and managed landscapes of every kind.